Heartbreak as John, Tomás and Amelia Mullan are laid to rest in Moville.

Fr Pat O’Hagan PP, Moville told those gathered at St Pius X Church, Moville and the many watching online at home how there has been a ‘universal outpouring of support’ and love across the world for Mrs Mullan since the tragic events of last Thursday.

“If they could take all this away, we wouldn’t need to be here this morning. But they can’t. And we find ourselves here, doing the last thing we’d want to do, if only we could choose. And we’re here, in this church, offering Mass for John, Tomás and Amelia. And we’re praying with and for Geraldine and all those who feel some of her pain.”

Fr O’Hagan said the events of last Thursday, in which John, Tomas and Amelia lost their lives,  ‘have overwhelmed us and left us reeling with a sense of shock and unbelief, and with a sadness and grief that’s palpable here in this parish community, and nowhere more so than in the heart of Geraldine Mullan.’

He added how John, Tomas and Amelia would never be forgotten,  - ‘who they were and what they meant to those of us who were privileged and blessed to know them.’
“We will never forget the events of Thursday night. We will never make sense of them by ourselves. We will never move forward by ourselves. So we come here this morning, to pray, to listen to God’s word, believing that Jesus is with us because He promised that “…where two or three are gathered in His name He is there among them…”  

Fr O’Hagan told how Jesus ‘is here,’ he is ‘sitting in the front row with ‘his arm firmly clasped around Geraldine.’

He continued: “He wants us to reflect for a moment on the importance of family life – the joys and sorrows, the ups and downs, the times when we need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.”

“But, above all, today, He wants us to think about the love we find only within the circle of our own family – the love of a husband and wife, the love of parents and children, and the love of siblings for one another – the things we’ve seen and know to have been part and parcel of the family life of the Mullans – going to Mass together, going on some unforgettable holidays together, including New York and Dubai, all those days in this “lockdown” summer when Tomás took care of Amelia, all those times I – and many, many others too – saw them down along the shore, happy to be together. As close and loving in life as they were in death, and now in eternal life.”
Fr O’Hagan said John, Tomás and Amelia – along with Geraldine – worshipped regularly at Mass.

“For probably four years Tomás was an altar server here – always turned up when he was on rota, quiet and unassuming, but diligent, punctual, ready and willing to do whatever was asked or expected of him. When he left Scoil Eoghain and moved to Moville Community College, he left his altar serving days behind him, and joined his mum and dad and his little sister in the seat where they always sat.”
Amelia was ‘a typical girl of her age, sometimes quiet, sometimes (more times) bubbly, always enjoying whatever she was doing. Getting on well in school, making friends, doing the things little girls do, wanting all the pink things little
girls want.’

Fr O’Hagan told how John and Geraldine met when she was nursing his late mother, Philomena, whose 10th anniversary was last Thursday.

“He and Geraldine became devoted not only to each other as husband and wife and as best friends, but to their children, as good, honest, hardworking parents who were bringing their children up and teaching them by their own
good example to be people of faith.
Fr O’Hagan told how St Paul tells us in the first Letter to the Corinthians that there are three things that last – faith, hope and love.
“We need all three today. Geraldine and her family will need them all as times
goes on. And so, we ask Almighty God to mend the hearts that are broken with faith in Him and in His love for us; with hope, not just for eternity, but for the here and now, for every day from this day onwards; and with love – a love that will be as palpable as the grief and sorrow we feel today, and that will help in some little way at least to reassure Geraldine that she’s not alone, that she stands today and every day, surrounded by the love of God, made visible in the person of Jesus Christ, and made concrete in the hugs, kisses and words of comfort and reassurance of family, neighbours and friends.”